Kevin de Bruyne’s incredible free-kick against Chelsea
Chelsea welcome Manchester City in this afternoon’s Premier League match with Pep Guardiola’s side significantly weakened by a number of their team testing positive for Covid-19.
Both sides are tied on 26 points, but the Blues have played two more games. A win for the hosts will take them to 29 points and level with Spurs and Everton, while the visitors can go above their opponents today and also narrow the gap to leaders Liverpool and Manchester United to just four points. Follow all the live goal and score updates from Stamford Bridge, as well as analysis and reaction throughout. All of that will follow live updates from St James’ Park and the conclusion of Newcastle United vs Leicester City:
CHELSEA 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY (48’)
City have a spring in their step here. Gundogan is constantly picking up the ball in pockets of space, and he almost plays Foden in on goal. Shortly after, De Bruyne collects the ball on the edge of Chelsea’s box but is closed down before he can fire off a shot.
Callum Rice-Coates3 January 2021 17:38
KICK-OFF
Chelsea get the second half underway. No changes yet, perhaps surprisingly, for the home side.
Callum Rice-Coates3 January 2021 17:35
Chelsea’s entire bench have been warming up at half-time, which suggests Frank Lampard might be considering a change or two…
Callum Rice-Coates3 January 2021 17:33
Callum Rice-Coates3 January 2021 17:25
HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY
Anthony Taylor brings the first half to a close. It’s been exceptional from City, who started slowly but burst into life, racing into a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Gundogan and Foden. De Bruyne added a third shortly after, and the visitors look out of sight against a Chelsea side really struggling for form.
Callum Rice-Coates3 January 2021 17:20
CHELSEA 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY (45+2’)
Ziyech curls a free kick into the City box and a looping header is sent straight at Steffen, who’s been quiet since that early scare when he picked up a back pass.
Callum Rice-Coates3 January 2021 17:18
CHELSEA 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY (45+1’)
Pulisic goes into the book for a late tackle on Cancelo.
Callum Rice-Coates3 January 2021 17:17
CHELSEA 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY (45+1’)
There’ll be two added minutes.
Callum Rice-Coates3 January 2021 17:16
CHELSEA 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY (44’)
Close! Another rapid City break almost results in the fourth goal. De Bruyne plays the ball out to Foden, whose low cross is flicked inventively towards the bottom right corner by the excellent Gundogan. It flashes just wide.
Callum Rice-Coates3 January 2021 17:16
CHELSEA 0-3 MANCHESTER CITY (43’)
City are content to let Chelsea have a spell of relatively harmless possession as half-time approaches. It hasn’t just been an attacking masterclass from the visitors, but an impressive defensive display, too.
Callum Rice-Coates3 January 2021 17:15